Here is what you need to know before the Lakers’ first meeting of the year with the Chicago Bulls.
1)
A pair of Lakers were tabbed among the NBA’s best young talent on Wednesday, as D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson were selected to the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend. Russell leads all rookies with 1.6 3-pointers per game, while Clarkson is second among sophomores in scoring (15.1 ppg).
2)
Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal will receive the greatest honor that the franchise has to offer. Next year, the three-time NBA Finals MVP will join Magic Johnson, Chick Hearn, Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only members of the organization with statues outside of Staples Center.
3)
Last time the Lakers and Bulls met, Los Angeles snapped its three-game losing streak against Chicago in a memorable way. The purple and gold pulled out a 123-118 double-overtime victory on Jan. 29, 2015 by hitting a season-high 50 shots.
4)
This game serves as a homecoming for former Laker Pau Gasol, who has been thriving at 35 years old by collecting 16.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per contest. He is also on pace to become the oldest player to average that many boards in six years.
5)
Jimmy Butler has joined Chicago’s long legacy of star guards, which he cemented on Jan. 14 by becoming the fourth Bull to ever score 50 points or more in one game. However, he is averaging only 17.3 points since dropping 53 that night.
6)
Derrick Rose is looking to regain recent form, as he has shot just 7-of-27 in his last two games after averaging 25.3 points in his previous three. The 2011 MVP has struggled to maintain consistency this year, hitting career-lows in scoring (15.3), rebounds (3.1) and made free throws (2.7).
7)
Rose is one of many Bulls currently hampered by injuries. He and E’Twaun Moore are probable to play against L.A., while Nikola Mirotic, Kirk Hinrich, Mike Dunleavy and Joakim Noah are all out.
8)
First-year head coach Fred Hoiberg has Chicago at 25-19 after a successful five-year tenure at Iowa State. He led the Cyclones to a 115-56 record, including the past two Big 12 Tournament titles.
9)
Chicago’s defense has been an unenviable one to face, as it holds opponents to a league-low 42.5 percent shooting from the field. The Bulls are also 19-2 when keeping their foes to below 100 points.
10)
Chicago has been both bolstered and burned on the glass. The Bulls grab an NBA-high 48.9 rebounds, which is on pace for the most by any team in the last 25 years. However, they also surrender the league’s most offensive boards (12.7).